Tenses and Timelines

For many people learning English as a second language, tenses are a confusing topic. In the following information, I have tried simplifying some of the main points you need to know when asking, “What are Tenses?”, “How do I change (or conjugate) the verbs?” as well as the “When should I use them?” and “Why use that particular tense?” I’ve also included a breakdown of the verbs to be and have and some visual timelines that may help you understand everything more.
It is by no means an exhaustive description but merely a small guide to help you understand the basics.

The What/How of Tenses

Below is a simple breakdown of ‘What’ the tenses are in English and ‘How’ to change the verb structure.

Simple

Subject + Verb (past form)
Example: I jumped or He taught

Continuous

Subject + to be (verb, past form) + verb + ing
Example: I was jumping or He was teaching

Perfect

Subject + to have(verb,
past form) + Verb (past participle)
Example: I had jumped or He had taught

Simple

Subject + verb

Example: I jump or He teaches

Continuous

Subject + to be(verb) + verb + ing

Example: I am jumping or He is teaching

Perfect

Subject + to have(verb) + Verb (past participle)

Example: I have jumped or He has taught

Simple

Subject + will + verb

Example: I will jump or He will jump

Continuous

Subject + will + be + verb + ing

Example: I will be  jumping or He will be  teaching

Perfect

Subject + will + have + Verb (past participle)

Example: I will have jumped or He will have taught

The When/Why of tenses

Simple
  1. When giving factual information or when you believe something to be true – James teaches very well!!
  2. Repeated actions/habits – James teaches me English every Monday
  3. Describing something that will not change – He looks like his mother.
  4. 3rd party timetables – The train leaves at 8pm
Simple
  1. Describes something that happened in the past that is finished. – I went to Heihe for Chinese New Year
Continuous
  1. Describe actions that weren’t finished that happened over a period of time in the past. – Last month, I was trying to get a new job.
  2. Describe actions that were changing in the past – Last year, the world was still coming out of recession.
Perfect
  1. Describes something that started in the past, refers further back to the past and then continues up to the first point in the past – In 2010, I have lived in China for five years.
Simple
  1. Describes predictions – It will be a nice day tomorrow
  2. Describes the desire or willingness to do something – George says he will help us
Continuous
  1. Describes plans and intentions – I will be driving to work today
  2. to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future – I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives
Perfect
  1. Expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

The details of the verbs 'to be' and 'to have'

 

To be – (present)

To be (past)

 

Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

1st person

I

am

We

are

I

was

We

were

2nd person

You

are

You

are

You

were

You

were

3rd person

He/she/it

is

They

are

He/she/it

were

They

were

 

To have – (present)

To have (past)

 

Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

1st person

I

have

We

have

I

had

We

had

2nd person

You

have

You

have

You

had

You

had

3rd person

He/she/it

has

They

have

He/she/it

had

They

had

Tense Timelines

Simple

Timelines - Simple

Continuous

Timelines - Continuous

Perfect

Timelines - Perfect